Firearm.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

J. M. BROWNING.

FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1905.

llw Iw N UH M Q a Will leases.

UNITED STATES .7 PATENT OFFlCE;

JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 190

Application filed August 18, 1905. erial No. 274,723.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, J OHN M. BROWNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to automatic firearms of that description in which the several operations-such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge shell, the cocking-of the hammer, the presentation and introduction of a loaded cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and the closing and locking of the breech-are automatically effected through the energy of the recoil of the breechor b blocker that part which at the time of fir- ,ing the shot closes the breech of the barrel;

'. ;.-'and the invention more especially relates to f firearmsof this description, in which, in firing, ,the barrel and the breech-block are inter locked and recoil some distance together, and during this rearward movement the barrel has another movement imparted to it, where-' by it is unlocked from thebreech-block, and after its release the movements of the barrel are arrested, while the breech-block continues to recoil until the breech is fully opened and in which during the opening movement of the. breech-block energy is stored in a lspring, the reaction of. which is utilized to effeet the return or closing movement of the fbreech-block. It is essential for the proper operation of firearms of this class that the breech-block and the parts connected and .moving with it should be made as heavy as is practical, so that, it may store a maximum ainount of energy in the short period of time :during which on firing the rearward pressure of the pq dengases 1n the barrel 'acts'upon the breech-block and initiates its recoil and 451 so that the breech block ma continue to recoil under its momentum a one to complete the openingof the breech and the compres-- sion of the reaction-spring after the gas-pres- I sure has ceased because relievedby the exit of thebulletfrom the barrel. On account of the limiteditotal weight practical for asmallarm," and especially for a pistol, it isneces- Y sary, in ordertofb e able to give fa maximum; weight to thebre'ech-block, that the other parts of the arm be constructed as light as "possible, is especially important regarding the barrel of this class of arms, for the additional reason that at the commencing of the recoil the light barreL may readily yield to and move rearward with the breechtended to fire powerful charges of powder, the- 'additional strength required in the barrel in its connections with and attachment to the frame, and especially in the parts of the barrel and frame-by which the movements of the one upon the other are arrested, is so much greater in proportion ,to the weight ofthese parts that the constructions heretofore used in arms of this class of smaller caliber cannot be relied upon as perfectly safe.

Oneobject of the present invention is to provide in a firearm of this classa simple but strong and reliable. means of attachment and connection between the barrel and the stationary frame of the arm which shall leave ,the barrel free to recoil a limited distance interlocked with the breech-block and which shall during this rearward movement guide the barrel and impart to it at the same time another movement by which it will" be .unlocked from the breech-block and which shall at the last of the return or forward move-.

inentof the breech j,block guide, the barrel while it is moved forward by the breechblock and impartto it anothermovemnt b T which the barrel and the breech-block will be interlocked when they arrive at the 'for ward firing position. i

Anothe IObjec't offthe invention is -to provide in a firearm of this classa means which shall-positively limit the rearward movement; V:

o, A 1 movements of the barrel as-soon as thesame;

of the barrel with the breech-block, arrest the has become unlocked from the breeeh bl'ock,

i'and which shall be adapted in form andfin strength to transmit to theframe the stress.

due to the sudden arresitbf the movements "of the barrel without injury resulting therefrom to either thebarr'el or the frame.

O "rel has anexterior taper shoulder and from invention to a' magazine-pistol nor to any particular kind of firearm.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the istol with the. breech closed, but showin t e forward part of the breech-slide and o the frame in section and. the lower ortionof the grip as being. broken'away. Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. 1, but showing the barrel inits rearward position and the breechslide moved somewhat farther rearward. Fig. 3 is a plan of theframe as it appears after the removal of the breechslide-and"the barrel from it."

Fig. 4 is a vertical'cross-section through the breech-slide, barrel, and frame on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 seen from the rear. Fi 5 is a vertrcaLcross-section through the reech-slide, barrel, and frame on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 seen from the rear. Figs. 6 and -6 represent the barrel detached, respectively, in a front end view and in arear end view. Fi 7 represents a crossksection of the breech-s ide, detached, on line 7 7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 represents a right side elevation of the breechslide partially in section to expose to view the locking-recesseson the interior left side wall. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the pistol represented in the drawings the barrel b is arranged upon the top of the frame a, the upper surface of which is concave in cross-section corresponding to the under side of the barrel to receive the same and to allow it to slide lengthwise and to rotate upon the frame. tion I) of the bar-rel inclosing the cartridgechamber and the part ofthe boreadjoining the chamber which are ex osed to the maximum pressure of the pow er-gases generated by the-explosion therein of acartridge is cylindrical in the greater part of its circumference. Forward of this rear portion the barthe shoulder to the muzzle. the outside diameter of the barrel is considerably reduced, .thus lessening the Wei ht of the barrel. On this reduced part of t e barrel between the muzzle and the shoulder a series ofannular collars 1i and 'b jfis provided. These collars, the outsidediameter of which is equal to that of the rear ortion of the barrel, .serve to strengthen t 1e same. The collar 1) nearest to the muzzle of the barrel is cylindrical in its entire circumference. The remaining collars b, of which three are shown on the barrel in the drawings, and also the rear portion b of the barrel inrear ofthe shoulder are m- The breech end or rear por- 4 creased in diameter on the tinder side nearest to the frame, each of them being provided with a projecting segment. On the rear portion 7) the projecting segment occupies substantially ninety degrees of the circumference, while the projectin segment on each of the collarsb is of less wi th. (See Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 6.) J

The concave upper surface a of the frame a at the front end and rearward for a distance nearly equal to the length of the reduced portion of the barrel corresponds in diameter with that of the collar 1) nearthe muzzle of the barrel-and forms a seat upon which'this the front end of the collar rests and'supports barrel. The seat-0X extends from the front of the frame rearward nearly tothe taper shoulder on the barrel at which the larger rear por tion I) begins. From there rearward the con cave u per surface a of the frame is shoulderedown to correspond with the projecting segmental surface under the rear portion 1) of the barrel and rovides a seat upon which the'bree'ch end of the barrel is supported. gBeneath each of the collars b on the barrel a recess a is provided in the top of the frame, into which the segmentalprojection on the collars b depends and which allows them a limited lengthwise and a limited rotary movement.

.From the under side of the projecting segmental surface at the breech end I) of the barrel a stud *1) extends downward into a camgroove a in the-frame and secures the barrel longitudinally upon the frame. The rear end of the cam-grooveis central in the top of the frame, and from it the cam groove inclines forward and to the left side.

When the barrel b is in the forward firing position, the muzzle projects slightly in front of the frame, the proiections on the collars b occupy the front en of the recesses a, and

the stud 1) stands in the front end of the cam- I groove a.

.forces the barre to make'a partial rotation on its longitudinal axis, and on the return or forward movement of the barrel it is rotated in the opposite direction.

On top of the frame the breech slide c is fitted to slide rearward and forward. The rear breec -bolt 0', adapted to close the chamber of the barrel, and the forward part c of the breech slide extends in semitubular form and incloses the barrel, the interior diameter of the slide corresponding with the exterior diameter of the collars and of the breech end of the barrel, so that the slide secures the barrel vertically in its seat u on the top of'the frame, but leaves it free or limited longitudinal and rotary movements thereon.

The sides of the breech-slide overlap those of the frame. Longitudinal ribs and grooves in the slide engaging correspondin grooves As the barrel moves, rearward ortion of the breech-slide forms the the usua of thec'artridg 8 I and other. parts of the firing mechanism are slide and passes transversely mounted in the frame, while the trigger is located in front of the grip. The interior of the ,grip forms the seat for-the cartridgemagazine, in which cartridges are held one vu on the other u on a spring-follower by -W 'ch they are fed upward to the receiver the to most cartridge being presented in front the breech-bolt when the same is in theopenposition, and by the forward movement of the breech-bolt this cartridge is transferred to the chamber of the barrel.

Beneath the barrel the reaction-spring is seated in a chamber in the frame a, and a transverse key. 0 is. inserted through rectangular recesses in the, sides of the breechthrough the chamber in the frame. A lon itudinal slot a through the frame allows the key to travel freely therein. The rear end of the slot forms. an abutment for the key, positively limits the rearward movement of the breech- "slide on'the frame, and prevents the breechslide', from flying back from the frame.

" Through the key 0 the reaction-spring e acts upon the breech-slide to return it and the breech-bolt forward to .the closed position after the recoil has moved them to the rear. The rearend of this spring 6 bears against the end of the chamber in the frame, and the front end of the spring 6 is fitted upon a piston e, the head 6 of which bears against the key 0 a slight recess in the rear face of the key providing a seat for the head e thereby securing the key against accidental displacement. The head of the piston e extends forward from the key to the front of the frame, a transverse recess in the piston-head being provided for the key, this recess bein somewhat longer than the key. To enable the key 0 to be at will withdrawn from the frame and from the breech-slide, thereby to disengage the breech-slide from the reactionspring, and to enable the slide and the spring to be removed from the frame rearward pressure is exerted upon the front end of the piston-head sufliciently to overcome the tension of the spring e and to force the piston-head out of the recess in the key. Thus released, the key 0 may be readily withdrawn, thereby releasing the breech-slideand the reactionspring for, removal without requiring the use of any tools. These parts being of wellknown construction and mode of operation and formin no part of the present invention, require no irther description.

On the left side of-the rear portion b of the barrel :1 series of vertical locking-ribs b is formed by a series of cuts between the said ribs at the junction of the downwardly-proj ecting segment with the cylindrical side of the barrel. (See rear end view of barrel, Fig. 6 In the left side wall of the breechslide in front of the breech-bolt a corresponding series of locking-recesses is provided. (See Figs. 7 and 8.)

When the barrel and the breech-slide are in their forward closed position, the lockingribs 6 on the barrel occupy the recesses c in curely interlocked, Figs. 1 and 4. When on firing a shot the breech-slide recoils on the frame, it draws the barrel rearward also. As the barrel moves rearward the stud b of the barrel moves through the cam-groove a in the frame, and, rotating the barrel, turns the looking-ribs b downward until as the-stud arrives at the rear end of the canrgroove the locking-ribs have been Withdrawn downbreech-slide. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) The breech-slide, thus'released from the barrel, continues to recoil under its momentum, completes the opening movement, and stores energy 1) compressing the reaction-spring e. During t e rearward movement of the barrel the segmental downward projections of the collars b standing in the recesses of in the frame freely allow the rearward and simulbut as the stud b arrives at the rear end of the cam-groove a the collars I) come into contact with theJframe at the rearendand at the right side ofv the recesses (1 and thus the movements of the barrel are positively arrested. The shock due to the sudden checking of the motions is transmitted to the frame of the arm at each of the several places of is prevented from causing injury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. At the end of the return or closing movement of he breech-slide under the reaction of the spring 6 the breech-bolt encounters the rear end of the barrel and forces the barrel forward and causes the stud If to move forward through the cam-groove a in the frame. The resulting rotation of the barrel turns the lockingribs 12 upward into the locking recesses 0 and as barrel and breech slide arrive in the forward closed position they are again secmely interlocked;

ters Patent, is; p

1. In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a fterward 'extension, an uncovered seat-.upon' the top surface ofzsai d frame, and alcam-groove in said seat, abarrel mounted from above upon said s.eat over wardly from the locking recesses -in the taneously rotatory movements of the barrel;

contact specified, and thus divided the stress What I claim, and desire to cover by Let'- I the breech-slide and barrel and slide are secam-groove, and means 7 barrel mounted from above said frame to slide and to rotate thereon, said barrel having a fixed stud to, on age said .movah' y, carried u on said frame for confinihg'- 'tlie "l$arre1 ,ver tically upon said frame.

2. In a firearm; the combination tim a frame having an uncovered seat upon the top themfand i1. @msrwve ,in sa seat, and a a. o said Se'at'toslide and to rotate thereon,'sa1d b,a .rrel having a fixed pro'ection to'engagesaid-cam-groove 'to limit t e movements of said barrel in bothdirections,

of a breech-slide embracing said frame and thereon,,said barrel having a fixed stud to engage said cam-groove and an integral pro action to depend into said recess, and a reech-slide movably held upon said frame and carrying an extension, to cover said barrel and to hold the same vertically upon said frame, whereby said barrel is attached to said f frame earm; ti re combination with. a forward extension, a seat 4; In a frame having a upon the in said seat, and a recess in said seat forward of said 'camcove, of'a' barrel mountedto' slide upon saidseat, having a stud to engage said cam-groove and having a pending into said recess, Where y upon said frame are limited b oints of contact, and a breec -slide embracmg said frame and sliding thereon, said I said barrel.

' groove-in sai cam-gr lengthwise and the rotatory for lengthwise vand rotatory movements, limited in 'all directions by-a v plurality of fipoints' of contact.

top surface thereof, a cam-groove n saidbreech-slide for interlocking said barrel and said breech-slide'by the rotatory moverojection dey the length' wise and rotatory movements of said barrel,

a plurality of breech-slide comprisinga breech-bolt and a forward extension inclosing said barrel, and

-'means for interlocking Sfild'bfill'Gl and said breech-slide by the rotatory movement of 5. a firearm, the combination with a frame-having a forward extension, a seat uponfthe-to surface thereof and a camseat, of a barrel to engage said oove whereby said barrel may have limited lengthwise and rotatory, movements upon saidvframe, a breech-slide embracing said'frame and sliding thereon, .said breechslide comprising a breech-bolt and a forward extension inclosing said barrel, and lockingi'ibs on said barrel and locking recesses 1n said breech-slide for interlocking said barrel andsaid breech-slide by the rotatory movement of said barrel.

6. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame having a forward extension, a seat upon the top surface thereof, a'cam-groove in said seat and a series of recesses-in said seat forward of said cam-groove, of a barrel mounted to slide upon said seat, having a stud to engage-said cam-groove, and havlng a series 'of projections depending into said recesses, whereby the lengthwise and rotatory movements of said barrel upon said frame are limited by a plurality of points of contact, and a breech slide embracing said frame and sliding thereon, "said breech-slide.

a breechbolt'and a forward excomprising tension inclosing said barrel, and lockingribs. on: said barrel and locking recesses n ment of. said barrel. 7

This specification signed and witnessed thisMth-day of August, A.D.-1905.-

' v JOHNMQBROWNING'.

In presence of HENRY J. WELLENKAMP, Tmio; D. W. Moons. 

